Masquerade 3

Authors Note 1:Already ¼ of the outline is completed, not that I usually ever plan out my stories. Spontaneity is my usual writing style, but the ideas haven't ceased so I wrote them down and eventually arranged them in chronological order. shrugs first time for everything, eh?

The last woman, blonde-haired and unmistakably vulnerable wrapped in a snow-white skirt, was sold for three thousand pounds. The sailor laughed as the skirt was rent in half promising his friends that the 'little flower would bloom' before morning.

Jack doubted he knew the meaning of the phrase, but he called upon the apathy he used when walking through streets in London or anywhere else children were raised in deplorable conditions with nothing to their name but a cursed future, or in a woman's case, a life spent on their backs.

"I don't believe we've met." a silky cold voice interrupted his memories, and he felt Sin stiffen and tremble in suppressed rage.

"Th' name's Smith, James Smith." Jack inclined his head courteously though everything in his strained to knock the white wigged man to his knees. "And I'm to assume you're the proprietor of this establishment?"

"Aye, Trevor Roxbri here, I won't keep you from... sampling the wares, however I wanted to meet the man who bid more than eight of my men combined."

"'s true, I didn't merit an invitation having just arrived on the 'Blackbird,' but one of the gentlemen was kind enough to point me in this direction."

"New to town." Sin heard him mutter, she could see the greed rise in Roxbri's glacier blue yes. She was pleased to note that Jack stood taller and was in much better physical condition.

The milk white complexion and skin-tone of Trevor paled in comparison to Jack's masculine tan, which proved that he actually worked for a living instead of idly spending inherited money. Everything she once had to restrain was given free rein, he wouldn't care if she used improper language or a lack of curtsy when he entered the room.

If she was right and he was a pirate perhaps he'd allow her to accompany him on a voyage. She would give anything to see more of the world aside from the pristine, mundane city she'd been in nearly all of her life.

The chances of that, she knew, were slim. Men from all over the world vied for a position aboard the Black Pearl once Jack resumed his place as Captain. Only one woman worked among their ranks she was best known as Anamaria.

Jack was unconventional in many ways, but allowing a woman not only on his ship, but in an upstanding permanent position showed his disregard towards anything conservative. Ana was known to drink, play cards, frequent places of ill repute, and several stories even made her out to be more than just a crewman for the illustrious pirate Captain.

"Would you be interested in possibly investing in a few shipping expeditions?" Roxbri asked nearly rubbing his hands together in glee. No wonder, a prospectively wealthy man new to town who needed influential company to show him around... it was enough to make Trevor stand on his head for joy.

"Would you mind very much if I met with you at a later time?" Jack inquired tipping his head slightly to the side to motion towards Sinclaire. "Sounds interesting, however I'm sure my mind will be preoccupied on other matters, I'd wish to give you my full concentration."

It didn't escape Jack's irony that the same shipping ventures Roxbri would invest in would soon become part of the Pearl's coffer. Jack would invest just to get triple the amount upon pillaging said ship. Jack was tempted to go along with this little charade just to find the name of the ship.

"Of course." Trevor grinned maliciously, "I'll leave you to the whore, and we'll talk more later." He walked away before Jack had a chance to say anything. Sinclaire could practically feel the strain emanating from his locked muscles, and was perversely pleased that he cared enough to champion her.

It was a feeling long denied and one she never thought to experience first-hand. Who cared about a lowly maid in a world such as this? A whore he called her, how could she be a whore when she'd never accepted a man before? It baffled her, the terms men threw around so lightly, just the whisper of dishonor could ruin a woman forever.

"'m sorry, love." Jack was already feeling constrained by society's rules and mandates. He'd never been one to follow orders, and knowing that he'd usually have initiated a duel over such an offense wasn't helping any.

"It's not your fault." Sin said shortly, "But I want to know, is this all an act for their benefit or are you pretending for me?"

The rumors that Jack Sparrow didn't like killing were true, however exaggerated they had become. While he didn't like taking innocent lives, and he'd never stab an opponent in the back to take the coward's way out, he wasn't averse to dueling men who deserved to be faced with life's vices.

"Come with me." He said gently leading her down the hallway, Jack quickly noticed that the square windows built into the doors had panels that opened and closed. He rationalized that the windows with shut panels were the ones currently occupied, which, unfortunately, were most of them.

The mansion had three floors each one arranged more brutally than the last. The first floor were mainly tables laden with food and drink, the second floor housed the auction and adjoining rooms that were bigger than the ones on the third floor.

The last level had weapons he wouldn't allow in his enemies hands let alone set aside for use on a woman. Bullwhips, switches, cat o'nine tails, canes, fire pokers, all of them were arranged neatly on the walls and smaller weapons of torture placed on tables for participants amusement.

He saw Sin's eyes widen in shocked horror as she looked towards him almost jumping out of her skin. She involuntarily felt herself pulling away from him as if a rabbit struggling to be free of the snare. Her skin was pale and cold to the touch, only her eyes dominated her face so gray they almost seemed black.

"You don't have to trust me," Jack said taking a dagger from his boot, "you have my promise that I won't hurt you... does this strengthen your resolve?"

Sin took the proffered weapon familiarly, Jack wondered how much experience she had wielding knives or swords. She certainly held it as though she'd been the victor of a few fights, there was so much he didn't know about her not to mention he still hadn't revealed his identity to her.

Refusing to loose hope he walked down the darkened corridor searching for a free room, lady luck walked beside him for the third to last door had the panel open showing no occupants. He opened the door surprised to see that it looked like an ordinary guest room.

Large bed in the center of the room, drapes could close shutting them off from the rest of the world. A table had been provided and food was still steaming from the center with crystal wine glasses and silverware with real plates.

"I wouldn't recommend you drink anything other than the water, but I'd think the food would be safe enough to eat." Jack remembered just exactly what they laced the alcohol with and he didn't want to see anything like that happen to Sin.

"I know." Sin deliberately put the knife down on the table with only a moments hesitation before letting go of the hilt. "I could hear them talking when they came down to the storage shed to get the wine."

"How long did they keep you here, if you don't mind me askin' that is." he knew that such memories might be beyond her capability to think on at the moment especially considering that they were so recent.

"Only around two days." Jack noticed her hungry look as she eyed the food yet she made no move to sit down and actually sate her appetite. "I worked as a maid in a provincial household, they've no doubt filled my place already."

"Which explains your quality of speaking." He didn't mourn the loss of a cockney accent most of his crew with the exception of Anamaria and Cotton spoke as one would expect of pirates. Barbossa had been educated despite his veneer of piracy with 'ye' and changing of tenses before certain words.

"Aye, done taught meself t'wroite'n read 's well, ye're lordsh'p." Sin laughed, "You can change you're accent as well, from that to gentleman, and even... Spanish Royal Navy I heard?"

"Spanish, French, Italian, and Latin." Jack stated fact Sin could detect no pride in his tone over such accomplishments. "I can teach you if you'd be interested."

"Very much." Jack noticed the dullness in her eyes fade to excitement, "So you plan to keep me on? Or..."

"If that be you're wish..." he was surprised she'd even contemplate piracy let alone want to join crew. "Though you'll need better clothes 'n that." Wondering where he could find her a dress all thoughts fled when Sin set the cloak over the back of the chair.

The aquamarine fabric exposed skin white from constraint within a maids uniform, she was slimly curvaceous with long legs that dominated his thoughts. Tendrils of black hair curled around the slender curve of her neck making him want to brush it asdide and remove the garments that hindered his exploration.

She wondered if dropping the cloak was the best plan of action. He hadnt moved from where he stood or made any motion to walk over to her. Should she be the one to take the first step? Had she really been so lucky as to find a man so kind that he wouldnt rush her through things?

Jack saw a blush suffuse her cheeks and work its way down to flush the skin above the delicately rounded swell of her breast. Just as he wanted to do, but she surprised him again when she kept her eyes fixed on his and walked towards him.

"Are you certain, lass?" he asked wondering what had changed her mind. Where had the quiet, timid, hurt girl gone? In her place was a hot-blooded woman ready to be intitated into the unescapable world of passion and pleasure.

"No, I'm not." she said quietly coming to a stop in front of him. Her eyes were soft and molten silver, "But I want you to teach me."

She bit her lip in indecidision debating whether her next mve would be too bold. Casting all doubts aside she unknotted the mask across his eyes to finally see the face of her rescuer.

Authors Note 2: See! And the mask is off, lol. How Don Juan DeMarco-ish, I just realized. hahaha, another nice fantasy added to the countless I've already had. Hmm... thank you all for reviewing! I'm typing this from my lap-top in the country and I cant access Internet to see the names of the reviewers. Thanks all very much for taking the time to comment on the story. I'm glad that you seem to be liking it so far!

Authors Note 3: Thanks to JainaKenobi and Dawnie-7 for reviewing! Really, thanks so very much!